I want to express my appreciation to U.S. Sen. Susan Collins for her support and the successful passage of the Social Security Fairness Act. The Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset unfairly targets our teachers, public safety workers and state employees. The restoration of full Social Security benefits is a win-win for hardworking Mainers […]
Alex Lear
Staff Writer
Alex Lear is a lifelong Mainer who has spent 25 years in journalism -- the first 20 as a reporter for newspapers in Damariscotta and Falmouth, then as Opinions section editor for the Sun Journal and now a digital producer with the Maine Trust for Local News. His long-running “Learics” column won first place in the Maine Press Association’s 2023 Better Newspaper Contest. He and his wife Lauren are kept young by their 9-year-old daughter Alaina. Send feedback and suggestions to Alex.
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Audrey Murphy: ‘We must stand up for our female athletes’
While watching the news recently, I was wondering what happened to all the women who stood up for women’s rights in the 1970s. Why are they not standing up today for the rights of women in sports? I saw a New York Times and a CNN report that says 79% of America, and 67% of […]
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Posted inLetters, Opinion
Robin Hackett: LD 175 tries to fix an unreal problem
Earlier this year Rep. Laurel Libby introduced to the Maine Legislature L.D. 175, which proposes an “Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Ensure That Only Citizens of the United States May Participate in Elections.” Our constitution currently states that “every” citizen of the United States living in Maine has the right to vote. This […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Krista White: ‘What has happened to Maine?’
The other day, I watched my six-year-old granddaughter receive two first-place awards for participating in her school’s Winter Olympics in Florida. As she stood on the center podium, her face radiated her accomplishments. I thought about the war we battle in Maine to protect girls in sports and locker rooms. I later asked my granddaughter […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Lawrence Small: America needs best candidate, regardless of party
For the first time in American history we have a pathological, narcissistic liar and convicted felon in the Oval Office to represent the U.S. I guess the majority of Republican voters feel the need to vote Republican, no matter what. Conversely, I think it’s not any better to vote a straight Democrat ticket no matter […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Edward Harwood: Rep. Libby needs ‘serious self-reflection’
The issues surrounding gender and sports are complex and even confusing. What is neither complex nor confusing is the act of putting a child’s name in the public domain in order to humiliate or disgrace them. That is malicious and vicious. I am regularly struck by the fact that those who most aggressively foreground their […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Lana Hall: Women’s sports should remain female-only
Maine’s female athletes train relentlessly for a fair chance to shine, but allowing biological males in women’s sports tilts the scales. Take the recent girls’ pole vault championship at Greely High School, won by a transgender athlete who competed as a boy last year. This isn’t about inclusion — it’s about fairness. Rep. Laurel Libby […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Arthur Wing: Males competing against females is unfair, dangerous
I wish to thank Laurel Libby, state Representative from Auburn and Minot, for her support of women and girls-only sports. The fact our great state allows males to compete against females is beyond belief. Males competing against females is not fair and more importantly, it is dangerous. Arthur Wing, Auburn
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Aubri Slaugh: Care for the caregivers
Many of us who do this work feel called to it. I hope lawmakers with the power to make positive change feel called to care for the caregivers and give us the opportunity to do more than just survive.